Device for sorting file material



July 7, 1942. H. D. RALSTON DEVICE FOR SORTING FILE MATERIAL 4 Shets-Sheet 1 Filed April 11, 1940 @544, 441 fi o/wags.

July 7, 1942. H. D. RALSTON 2,289,070,

DEVICE FOR SORTING FILE MATERIAL Filed April 11, 1940 v 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 7, 1942. H. D. RALSTON 2,289,070

DEVICE FOR SORTING FILE MATERIAL I Filed April 11, 1940 4 Sheets-$heet 5 July 7, 1942. H. D. RALSTON DEVICE FOR SORTING FILE MATERIAL Filed April 11, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 mh Mm, M

Patented July 7, 1942 DEVICE FOR SORTING FILE MATERIAL Hurley D Ralston, Oak Park, 111., assignor to Sears, Roebuck and Cc., Chicago, 111., a corporation of New York Application April 11, 1940, Serial No. 329,083

11 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in devices for sorting file material and more particularly concerns a device of the type which is adapted for sorting correspondence, bills, forms, and other papers to be filed away in permanent filing cabinets or cases.

A general object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which is of relatively simple and inexpensive construction, which will withstand hard usage and which is readily adaptable for a variety of conditions and requirements in use.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sorting device having a sorting tray and a carriage for removably receiving the tray, wherein the tray carries a series of removable sorting flaps which are locked against accidental displacement when the tray is assembled with the carriage.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved tray construction for such a device.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved carriage construction for a sorting device of the foregoing general character.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide improved means for retaining the sorting tray and carriage in assembled relationship.

An additional object of the invention is to provide an improved sorting fiap arrangement for substantially increasing the capacity of the device.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved end supporting plate arrangement for the sorting fiaps adapted to accommodate various operating requirements and enabling use of a variable number of sorting flaps in the device with equal efficiency.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent in the following description and from the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of a sorting device embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the device.

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the device.

Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective assembly view of the device.

Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially in the plane of line 55 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a fragmental enlarged longitudinal vertical sectional view taken substantially in the plane of line 6-43 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is a greatly enlarged elevational detail view of a fragmentary portion of one side of the sorting tray to show the manner in which the flap supporting pintles are anchored in place.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially in the plane of line 8-8 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary perspective view of a modified arrangement showing the use of a plurality of sorting trays in one carriage.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary longitudinal vertical sectional View through the device showing one of the end plates and its associated adapter in a modified operative relationship.

Fig. 11 is a transverse sectional detail View taken substantially along line lll I of Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a sectional elevational View substantially like Fig. 10 but showing a modified form of adapter and end plate structure.

Fig. 13 isa fragmentary enlarged rear elevational view of the modified form of adapter and end plate structure showing the parts in a different relationship.

Fig. 14 is a detail sectional view taken substantially in the plane of line I l-I4 of Fig. 13.

Fig. 15 is an enlarged perspective assembly view of a group or multiple-leaf set of sorting flaps adapted for use in the device.

While the invention is susceptible of various modifications and alternative constructions, I have shown in the drawings and will herein describe in detail certain preferred embodiments, but it is to be understood that I do not thereby intend to limit the invention to the specific forms disclosed but intend to cover all modifications and alternative constructions falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

Generally speaking, a sorting device embodying the present invention finds particular utility in the segregation and allocation with respect to a plurality of prearranged subdivisions of papers of various sorts as a preliminary to transference thereof to an organized filing cabinet system. The device, therefore, has a substantial number of places or pockets defined between a series of swingable tabbed flaps into which the sorted material is placed as segregated pending removal for transfer to the files. These sorting fiaps are preferably mounted upon a reasonably light weight tray so that the entire series of flaps unloaded or loaded with file material may be transported between'a sorting station and the files. At the sorting station the tray may be supported by either a stationary or movable carriage to hold it in the most convenient position from the operators standpoint during the sorting operation. Thus, an unloaded or empty tray is placed upon the carriage and sorting proceeds by inserting the various pieces of file material into the appropriate subdivisions behind the respective sorting flaps. After the device has been loaded to the desired extent, the tray is removed from the carriage and transportedto the files where the file material is transferred to the appropriate file receptacles. Therafter the empty tray is returned to the sorting station'ior reloading. In a large business establishment where a substantial volume of material passes to the files, a number of trays may be provided for each carriage and different clerks may be assigned to the sorting and to the filing operations, an empty tray replacing the loaded tray as soon as the latter is removed.

Referring now to the drawings, and in particular Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a generally fiat, horizontal tray 2|] of relatively narrow elongated shape, preferably narrower than the average length of the papers to be filed and equipped with a longitudinal series of individually swingable relatively light weight, flexible sorting flaps 2|. For convenience, the flaps 2| are in use held in generally upward endwise slanting relation to the plane of the tray by means of relatively rigid swingable end plates 22 mounted at the opposite ends of the tray for limited swinging movement longitudinally of the latter. While the tray is in process of being loaded with sorted file material, it is preferably supported by a carriage 23 which in the present instance comprises an elongated shallow panlike receptacle conveniently formed from sheet metal of suitable gauge fashioned to provide a horizontal base wall 24, opposite vertical side walls 25 and 26, and end walls 21. The upper edges of the side walls 25 and 26 are preferably substantially extended outwardly in a common horizontal plane to provide wings 28 and 29, respectively, which in effect form a table substantially coplanar with the upper face of the tray 20 for supporting the laterally projecting ends of sorted material inserted between the sorting flaps, as indicated at 30 (Fig. 1). Where the carriage 23 is to be mounted in a fixed position while in use, it may be provided with attachment means such as rubber suction cups 3| secured to downwardly projecting bosses or legs 32 adjacent to the four corners of the base wall 25 and adapted in a well known manner to grip a fiat surface such as a desk top or table top 33 (Figs. 3, 6 and 8).

The sorting flaps 2| are preferably formed of a tough flexible material such as pressboard or fiberboard capable of withstanding repeated, vigorous handling and are of elongated form equipped at one end with any preferred type of suitably staggered index tabs 34. Herein the tabs are shown as formed from sheet metal folded over to clamp the upper edges of the respective flaps therebetween and secured in place by means such as metallic grommet type rivets 35 (Fig. 8). In order to improve the resiliency and wearing qualities of the fiaps 2| a double ply construction is employed consisting either of two identically dimensioned sheets of body material or a single sheet folded double for this purpose.

Means for connecting the sorting flaps 2| swingably to the tray 28, comprises suitable hinges 31 on the ends of the flaps opposite the index tabs 34, and a series of parallel transverse axis rods or pintles 38 carried by the tray 28 (Figs. 1, 4 and 8) to receive the hinges thereon. In the present instance the hinges 31 are made of sheet metal strips secured to the respective adjacent end margins of the flaps as by means of metal grommet rivets 39. At their outer ends the hinges are shaped to provide journal sleeves 46 extending in parallel relation to and beyond the edge of the associated flap margin for engaging the respective pintles 33.

As one feature of the invention, the sorting flaps 2| may be associated by groups or as multiple leaf sets including a plurality of similar individual flaps adapted to be mounted upon and swing about a single pintle 38. As shown in Figs. 1 and 15, such a set may consist of three of the sorting flaps 2| each having a spaced pair of the hinges 31 staggered to interfit coaxially when the hinge edges of the flaps are brought into alined engagement. Thereby a single one of the pintles 38 may be received through all of the hinge journals 43 of the set. To enable all of the flaps 2| of the set to abut facewise when mounted upon the supporting pintle, the hinge journals 40 of the center flap are disposed with the axes thereof coincident with the longitudinal median plane of the adjacent fiap edges, and the hinge journals 40 of the outer two flaps are laterally offset to lie with their axes also in said longitudinal median plane of the center flap when the group or set of flaps is assembled together. Thus, in the assembled relationship of the set of flaps the several hinges in effect form a single hinge having several staggered sections two of which are on each of the individual flaps. As a result of this arrangement it will be observed that by utilizing each pintle 38 for a plurality of flaps the sorting capacity of the device is substantially increased while reducing by the number of additional flaps carried thereby the total number of pintles required. The remaining pintles can be placed almost as close together as if carrying only one flap each. Each of the flaps although part of a set forms part of and is independently manipulable as a member of the whole series of sorting flaps.

In the present instance the pintles 38 are preferably formed from resilient metallic rod stock such as suitable gauge piano wire. At one of their ends the pintles 38 are anchored permanently to one side of the tray 29 to extend horizontally thereacross while at their opposite ends they are free to permit reception of the hinge journals Gil by a relative axial movement. The mounting of the pintles is such, moreover, that once the sorting flaps are mounted upon the pintles they are held substantially against axial displacement. To this end, the tray 2%] is preferably constructed as an elongated, relatively flat frame one side of which is formed of a pair of relatively closely spaced parallel flat outer and inner metallic bars 4| and 42 (Figs. 4 and 8) disposed with their greater transverse dimension vertically, and the opposite side of the tray is formed of a similar elongated frame bar 43. The fixed ends of the pintles 38 are anchored to the upper edges of the side bars 4| and t2 and loosely engage at their free ends upon the upper edge of the opposite side bar 43. The side frame bars are secured into a rigid frame unit by means such as tie bars or rods 44 secured endwise thereinto at suitably spaced longitudinal intervals (Figs. 2, 4 and 6).

Anchorage of the pintles to the side frame bars 4| and :2 is effected in a novel manner, in the present instance comprising an improved cantilever support. Thus, referring particularly to Figs. 6, '7 and 8, the base end portions of the pintles 38 lie across the upper edges of the bars 4| and and are located Within alined transverse recesses or grooves 45 formed to receive the same at predetermined equidistant intervals longitudinally of the bars and sunk to a depth substantially equal to the pintle diameter. In these alined grooves 45 the base portions of the pintles are held permanently by suitable means such as clenching flanges 4? peened over from the upper corners of the notches. Through this arrangement the pintles are actually doubly anchored, and the upper tangential plane over the pintles lies substantially flush with the upper edge plane of the side bars 4| and 42.

By preference the vertical dimension of the parallel side frame bars 4|, 42 and 43 is slightly less than the inside vertical dimension of the carriage side walls 25 and 26 and a cover plate 48 making up the deficiency is secured in smooth, finished horizontal concealing relation upon the top, groove scarred edges of the side frame bars 4| and 42. This cover plate 48 is preferably of a Width at least equivalent to the outside spacing between the side bars 4| and 42 and is preferably of angular cross section to form a downwardly extending flange in engagement with the outer vertical face of the outer frame bar 4|. manently secured in place as by means of welding, and because of the described vertical dimensional relationships has the upper face disposed to lie flush with the upper face plane of the side wings 28 and 29. It may also be noted that by reason of the rigid channel-like structure formed by the union of the side frame bars 4! and 42 and the cover plate 48, a non-tilting, non-skewing anchorage is provided for the associated ends of the tie rods 44 to maintain the entire tray frame in a thoroughly rigid unit although comprising a relatively light weight metallic construction.

At their free end portions, the pintles 33 preferably project slightly beyond the side frame bar 43 so as to facilitate engagement and upward flexing thereof by the hinge journals 4% in mounting the sorting fiaps (Fig. 4). Moreover, the upper edge of the bar 43 is preferably formed to receive and hold the free ends of the pintles in proper spaced relationship to avoid side play when the pintles are at rest but to enable upward flexing of the pintles when necessary for placement or removalof the sorting flaps. For this purpose, cradle recesses or grooves 50 substantially like and alined with the respective anchorage grooves 45 are formed in the upper edge of the side bar 43 for receiving the free end portions of the pintles (Figs. 4, 8 and 10). As a result, the free end portions of the pintles always tend to remain in or flex back into the cradle grooves 50 where their upper tangential plane lies substantially flush with the upper edge face of the side bar 43. Moreover, axial displacement of the sorting flaps is substantially avoided by the upper portion of the side frame bar 43 which through this arrangement serves as a retainer for the adjacent ends .of the hinge journals 4!! to confine the hinges to those portions of the pintles lying between the inner faces of the inner side frame bar 42 and the opposite side frame bar 43.

While the device is in use for sorting purposes,

:the sorting flaps 2| will, of course, of necessity have to be handled frequently to effect swinging separation thereof for inserting file material into the selected pockets therebetween. This sorting process must for practical reasons be speedy and the sorting flaps are therefore frequently subject to rather violent forces and strains tending to tilt the same in their axial plane and cause the free ends of the respective pintles 38 to flex or spring out of the cradle grooves 50 whereby to release the sorting flaps.

The cover plate 48 is preferably per- To avoid any'such disarrangement, it is a feature of the invention to lock the sorting flaps 2| against displacement, in the present instance accomplished by positively holding the pintles down in the cradle grooves 5|] when the tray 20 is in operative assembly with the carriage 23. As best seen in Figs. 4 and 8, the means for this purpose comprises a flange 5| which projects inwardly from the upper edge of the side wall 26 of the carriage substantially in the plane of the adjacent side wing 29 to overlie the upper edge of the side frame bar 43 and thus lock the free ends of the pintles against upward movement out of the cradle notches 50. In the present instance, the fiange 5| comprises an angular metallic strip of L-shaped cross section secured as by welding to the inner face of the carriage side wall 26. The relative proportions of the tray 20 and the carriage 23 are such that in assembling the same, the tray is moved under the locking flange 5| by downward and sidewise movement as indicated in broken outline in Fig. 8. When the tray is being unloaded of file material the flaps 2| are not ordinarily subject to as frequent or as violent usage and the possibility of displacement of the free pintle ends from the locating notches is proportionately minimized.

In order to hold the tray 20 in the assembled relation with the carriage 23 and against tilting laterally out of the carriage while in use, suitable means may be provided which, preferably operating in conjunction with the locking flange 5|, will lock the tray releasably within the carriage. In the present instance such means comprises a latch 52 (Figs, 2, 3 and 8) reciprocably retained and guided in a. housing 53 secured to the under face of the side wing 28. The latch 52 works through an aperture 54 in the adjacent carriage side wall 25 to enter a keeper recess 55 in the outer face of the outer side frame bar 4| of the tray. For releasing the tray 29 when it is desired to remove the same from the carriage, a handle 51 adjacent to the outer edge of the side wing 28 enables retraction of the latch from the keeper recess 55 against the biasing force of a suitable latch spring 58. As an aid in facilitating assembly, the lower portion of the outer side frame bar 4| may be formed under the keeper recess 55 with a beveled approach groove 59 which will ease the latch 52 back as the up-tilted side of the tray is brought down until the latch finds and snaps into the keeper recess.

Where instead of utilizing the present sorting device as a single unit, it is desired to increase the working capacity by combining two or more units, the carriage may be proportionately lengthened and arranged to receive the desired number of trays 20 in end to end alinement with the individual serie of sorting flaps combined, if desired, into a common series. Such an arrangement is shown in Fig. 9 wherein a carriage 60 is of a length to receive two of the trays 20 in end to end relation, each of the trays being adapted to be locked in place similarly as herein-' before described. To assure proper location of the trays in the multiple arrangement, a locating projection or boss 6| may be provided at the base of the carriage 60 for registration with notches 62 in the adjacent inner ends of the outer frame bars 4|. If desired the carriage 60 may be equipped with anti-friction bearings or rollers 63 for movement over a supporting table surface 64 upon which the carriage may be guided in any suitable manner as for example by means of a guiding belt 65 such as covered in my copending application Serial No. 243,950 filed December 5, 1938, since matured into Pat'- ent No. 2, ,662 dated Feb. 17. 1942.

The end plates 22 serve the dual purpose of backing members for supporting the relatively flexible sorting flaps 2| and also as convenient handles in carrying the tray 20. These end plates 22 may conveniently be formed. from relatively heavy gauge sheet metal looped at one end to form a journal sleeve 61 (Figs. 1, 5 and 6) to receive an axis pin 68 of substantial diameter appropriately secured between the side frame bars of the tray. The outward inclination of each flap is determined in the present instance by engagement with the adjacent end tie rod 44 which is properly located for this purpose in spaced parallel relation to the axis pin 68. The vertical position of each axis pin 68 is preferably calculated with respect to the thickness of the associated end plate 22 to enable the end plate to be swung down onto the pintles 38 substantially flush with the cover plate '48 and the retaining flange 5| when the tray 28 is to be packed for storage or shipment.

On occasion it may be desirable or convenient to remove one or both of the end plates 22 as for example where a plurality of trays are placed and to end in use as shown in Fig. 9, or for some other reason it is desired to dispense with one or the other of the end plates. To this end, the axis pins 68 are preferably removably supported by the side frame bars of the tray and are adapted to be longitudinally removed for releasing the associated end plates. While the respective end plates are in use, however, the axis pins 58 are locked against axial displacement from the tray by suitable means such as individual manually releasable spring detents 18 (Figs. 1, 5 and 6) each of which is secured at one end between the outer and inner frame bars 4| and 42 as by looping the same over the shank of a pin H and anchoring the adjacent end within an aperture H in the bar 42. From this anchorage the detent extends transversely of the associated axis pin 88 into engagement within an annular circumferential groove 12 therein. The free end portions of the detents 78 are formed to project upwardly through slots in the cover plate 48 for manual engagement in dexing and releasing the detents from the respective grooves 12 (see dot dash position in Fig. 6;).

At times it may be desirable to alter the capacity of the sorting tray 20 by the use of a smaller number of sorting flaps 2| than normal. In such event one of the end plates 22 may, be removed by releasing its axis pin 68 and inserting the plate in a selected position upon one of the pintles 38 (Fig. Due to the weight of the series of flaps 2| which the repositioned end plate must sustain in use, it would not be practical to rely upon an adjacent pintle 38 as a limit upon the slanting pitch thereof. Accordingly, auxiliary means is provided to serve as a brace for supporting the end plate at the desired pitch. Herein this auxiliary brace means, identified generally by the number 14', comprises an engagement member in the form of a flat sleeve T5 (Fig. 11) adapted for slidably engaging the body of the associated end plate 22 and a hingedly connected brace member or plate 11 having its free end turned over into a tubular sleeve '!8 to receive a pintle 38. Thus, as seen in Fig. 10, the sleeve 15 may be slid to any desired location upon the end plate 22 and the sleeve '18 secured upon a selected pintle. To avoid longitudinal slipping of the sleeve 15 under the weight of the sorting flaps thereagainst the brace plate ll should in operation be located at substantially right angles to the end plate at the desired pitch of the latter.

While the auxiliary bracing device 14 is not in use, it may be collapsed and supported upon the associated end plate 22 as shown in Figs. 1 and 4. For this purpose the bracing plate 11 i provided with turned over edge flanges or retaining fingers 19 for slidably engaging the edges of the end plate by slipping the bracing device thereonto by an endwise relative movement while the device is collapsed.

In a modified form of end plate and auxiliary bracing means 8| as shown in Figs. 12 to 14., the arrangement is such that either or both the end plate and the bracing means may be adjusted as to position upon the tray without removing the tray from the carriage in order to enable engagement with the selected supporting pintles. Accordingly, the end plate 80 may be formed with a reverse bent journal sleeve 82 of a diameter to receive the axis pin 68 at one end of the tray 20 but having an outwardly or downwardly opening longitudinal entrance slot 83 of just sufficient width to receive one of the pintles 38 therethrough by a relative diametrical movement. As shown the slot 83 is formed by leaving an opening along the edge of the curled over margin of the plate. Similarly, the auxiliary bracing means may have a bracing plate 84 formed at its free edge with an open longitudinal sleeve or socket 85 adapted to rest upon the selected pintle 38.

The member for connecting the auxiliary bracing means 8| to the end plate 80 comprises a flat sleeve 81 carrying a wing-nut bolt 88 which passes through both the sleeve and the end plate for securing them together against accidental relative movement. For enabling relative longitudinal adjustment of the sleeve 81 the end plate 80 may be provided with a longitudinal slot 89 for longitudinal passage of the shank of the bolt. An aperture 90 in the brace plate 84 accommodates the wing nut of the bolt 88 when the brace plate is collapsed flat against the connecting sleeve 87. Retaining tongues 9! at the edges of the brace plate are adapted to engage over the edges of the associated end plate for holding the bracing device collapsed when not in use.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the present invention provides an improved, large capacity sorting device of efficient, inexpensive construction which is readily adaptable for various operating conditions. The simple hinge and pintle connection between the sorting tray and the sorting flaps enables the latter to be easily and quickly mounted upon or removed from the tray, and in the assembled relationship of the tray and carriage the sorting flaps cannot be accidentally displaced because they are then locked against all but relative swinging movement. Moreover the tray and carriage are releasably locked together but may be quickly separated when the loaded tray is to be removed.

Adaptability of the device for various requirements is substantially enhanced by the novel removable end plate and adapter arrangement.

I claim as my invention:

1. A device for sorting file material comprising, in combination, a tray structure including a series of swingable sorting flaps and means for connecting said flaps removably to the tray, a carriage for removably receiving said tray, and

means on said carriage for retaining said flaps against removal from the tray while the tray and the carriage are in the assembled relation.

2. A sorting device comprising, in combination, a sorting tray having a plurality of spaced parallel flexible pintles anchored along one side thereof and extending freely toward the opposite side of the tray, a series of sorting flaps in hinged engagement with said pintles, and a carriage for said tray comprising a receptacle including an inwardly projecting flange arranged to overlie the free ends of the pintles in the assembled relationship of the tray and carriage, whereby said flaps are locked against removal from said pintles until the tray is released from under said flange.

3. A device for sorting file material comprising, in combination, a tray structure including a series of sorting flaps and means for swingably connecting said flaps removably to the tray, 2.

carriage for said tray having means for locking said connecting means against removal of said flaps, and means cooperating with said connecting means for releasably locking said tray and said carriage together.

4. A sorting device of the character described comprising, in combination, a sorting tray having a series of swingable sorting flaps, a carriage for removably supporting said tray in upwardly facing relation including a member to overlie one side of the tray in the assembled relationship of the carriage and tray to hold such side against upward displacement from the carriage, and means releasably coacting with the opposite side of the tray to hold the latter side against upward displacement from the carriage.

5. A sorting device of the character described comprising, in combination, a narrow elongated sorting tray including a plurality of narrow pocket defining sorting flaps swingable longitudinally of the tray, one side of said tray being higher than the opposite side, a carriage for receiving said tray having a pair of coplanar wings projecting laterally from opposite sides thereof substantially within the plane of the higher side of said carriage, and means coplanar with said Wings projecting inwardly from said carriage over the lesser-height side of said tray, said last mentioned means and said wings cooperating with said higher tray side in supporting projecting portions of the sorted material placed in the pockets between said sorting flaps.

6. In combination in a sorting device of the character described, a tray including a plurality of spaced parallel pintles arranged to lie substantially horizontally while the device is in use, a series of narrow hinged flaps swingably supported by said pintles, a carriage for said tray including means for supporting sorted material which projects endwise beyond the sides of said narrow sorting flaps, means for locking said pintles against removal of the sorting flaps while the tray and carriage are in assembled relation, means associated with said supporting means cooperating with said pintle locking means for releasably locking said tray and carriage together, a pair of end plates for supporting the sorting flaps in generally upwardly extending relation to the tray, and means for connecting said end plates to said tray, the connecting means for at least one of said end plates being arranged to release the associated end plate only in the disassembled relation of the carriage and tray so as to enable mounting of the released end plate upon a selected pintle for adapting the tray for a smaller number of sorting flaps than the whole series.

7. A sorting device of the character described comprising, in combination, a tray structure, a plurality of supporting rod elements mounted in spaced parallel relation upon said tray structure and adapted to lie substantially horizontally While the tray is in use, a series of hinged sorting flaps supported swingably by said elements, an end plate located at one end of the series of flaps for normally supporting said flaps in a generally upwardly slanting relation to said tray, means for removably connecting said end plate to said tray, said end plate upon removal from the tray being engageable with any selected one 'of said rod elements to accommodate a lesser eluding a series of supporting rod elements for receiving hinged sorting flaps, and a flap-supporting end plate including means for engagement with any selected pintle by an assembly movement transverse to the pintle axis.

9. A device of the character described including, in combination, a pair of members in spaced relation, a series of pintles secured to one of said members and extending across the intervening space into unattached engagement with the other of said members, and with the unattached end portions movable away from the latter member, said pintles being adapted to receive the hinge sleeves of a set of flaps by relative longitudinal movement over said unattached end portions when the latter are moved out of engagement with said other member, and means for locking said unattached end portions of the pin tles against disengagement from said other member so as to prevent accidental dislodgement of the hinge sleeves from the pintles.

10. A sorting device of the character described including, in combination, a horizontally arranged sorting tray having a series of generally upwardly extending swingable sorting flaps, a supporting structure for said tray, and an arrangement for connecting said tray and said supporting structure together including fixedly located locking means on one side of the supporting structure and quick-releasable locking means on the opposite side of the supporting structure engageable with the respective adjacent sides of said sorting tray.

11. In a loose leaf device, the combination of a pair of elongated frame members fixed in spaced relation, a series of parallel transverse grooves formed in one of said members, a series of flexible pintles extending transversely of said members and each having one end received in one of said grooves, said one member being peened over adjacent said grooves to form flanges for permanently clenching said pintles in position, said pintles being engaged at their free end portions against the opposite of said members, and a cover plate overlying said one member.

HURLEY D. RALSTON. 

